Improvement in seed-planters



E. G. MATTHEWS.

. Seed-Planters. NWN-7,671.. Patented Feb.17,1874,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELBRIDGE GVMATTHEWYS, OF OAKHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEED-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0.`14'7,671, dated February 17, 1874; application filed January 3, 1874.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELERIDGE G. MAT- THEWs, of Oakham, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, havel invented a new and valuable Improvement in Seed-Planters; and I` do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 ofthe drawings is a representation of a side view of my seed-planter. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

This invention has relation to machines for planting various kinds of garden and field seeds, and it 'consists in a circularlyadjustable seed-box having a single hole through its bottom, provided with arresting-lugs, in combination with a cylindrical receptacle having a number of holes of different sizes through its bottom, for different kinds and sizes of seeds, and also lhaving a conical conductor formed on it. lt also consists in rotating curved agitator-s, arranged inside of the seedbox, in combination with a seed-discharging arm, for insuring a uniform discharge ot' the seed.

The following is a description of my improvements l In the annexed drawings, A represents a cylindre-conical box, consisting of a cylinder, a, an inverted cone-shaped discharger, b, and a iiattened tubular marker, c. The cylindrical portion a is constructed with a bottom, af, through which a number of perforations, p, are made, which are of different sizes for different kinds of seeds. Inside of the box a is a cylindrical seed-vessel, n, which has one hole, q, through its bottom, rising from one end of which are two lugs, r o', that are separated by a short space. The hole q is oblong, and larger than the largest hole through the bottom a of the box a. The upper end of the seed-vessel-a has anannular flange, nf, secured to it, on which will be printed the names of the different kinds of seeds which the machine is capable of planting, which namesV are arranged over the proper holes p through the bottom a of box a. The seed-vessel n is circularly adjustable, for bringing its hole q over any one of the holes p, and by means of a screw, on which is a thumb nut, t, the seed-vessel can be secured in any desired position. B is the removable cover to the seedA vessel, and s is a centrally-arranged shaft, carrying four curved arms, j and jf. These arms all sweep over the hole q, and their ends pass between the lugs r r, which latter arrest the seeds, and allow the armsj to spring over them. The spring-arm j has a hat foot-piece, i, formed on its lower end, which sweeps around in the same path as the ends of the arms j, and presses the seeds through the holes p g. The falling seeds are conducted into the furrow made by the flattened tube c, through this tube and the conc b, and are covered by means of wings g1 and a pressure-plate, g2. The plate g2 and the wings g1 are connected to a gage-shoe, g, by means of a bent spring, g3. These parts are adjustably applied to the tube c, for regulating the depth it is desired to plant the seeds. C C designate handles, which are secured into sockets formed on the box A, and which have two props, l) D, connected to them by pivots. As the machine has only one supportingwheel, F, the props are necessary to keep it in an upright position when the handles are not held by an attendant. E E are two parallel arms, which afford bearings for the shaft of the wheel F; and d represents a concentric circle of teeth, with which a pinion spurwheel, f3, engages, which pinion is keyed on the shaft f2 of another pinion, f1. The shaft f2 has its bearings in a frame-bar, Jl, which bar is rigidly secured to the top of box A, and extends across this box, and affords an upper bearing for the shaft s. The spurwheel f on shaft s engages with the pinion f1 on shaft f2, and thus receives rapid rotation from wheel F. 4

Vvlhat Iclaim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. The cylindrical and adjustable vessel ln., having the annular flange n and a perforation through its bottom7 and applied inside of the lu testimonyT that I claim the above I have cylindrical portion of the box A, in eombinahereunto subscribed my name in the presence tion with the perforated bottoni a and revolvl of two Witnesses.

ilibdtsliedaud disohalgels] J substantlally ELBRIDGE G. MATTHEVS.

2. The foot t', on the seed-diseharging arm j', Witnesses:

combined With the agitators j, substantially as ARTHUR D; MCCLELLAN,

described. HENRY BACON. 

